Firm Profile > Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Tokyo, Japan

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Offices

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
IZUMI GARDEN TOWER, 28TH FLOOR
1-6-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
TOKYO 106-6028
Japan
Visit website 81 3 3224 2900 81 3 3224 2901

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution: International firms and joint ventures Tier 1

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is renowned for its expertise in international arbitration and mediation. Also notable is the firm's work on complex white-collar law, whistle-blowing, anti-bribery and anti-corruption matters. Yoshihiro Takatori spearheads the litigation department as well the firm's global Japan practice; he is regularly retained by the Japanese government to advise on international arbitration, while also representing a stellar roster of private clients. Office manager Shinsuke Yakura is a notable name while, at the junior level, senior associate Kazuo Isshiki focuses on intellectual property, antitrust, product liability and internal investigations for both domestic and foreign companies. David Case has left the firm to start his own firm in the US.

Testimonials

‘Orrick’s Japan-based dispute resolution team has considerable experience and know-how in different fields, including international litigation and mediation as well as domestic dispute resolution.’

‘Shinsuke Yakura’s team always provides the best solutions. The group consistently showcases a strict commitment to the requested deadlines and the quality of its work.’

‘Orrick’s dispute resolution team has broad experience with respects to cyber security and data protection elements in cross-border dispute resolution.’

‘Yoshihiro Takator contributes much to the legal market, including in the context of international arbitration and mediation. He is one of the top practitioners in the cross-border dispute resolution area not just in Japan, but in Asia as a whole.’

‘Yoshi Takatori is one of the best dispute lawyer in Japan. In addition to his strong arbitration background, he has extensive expertise in cyber security and corporate governance. He also has strong and unique connection to sports and the entertainment industries.’

Key clients

Applied Materials

Bayer Yakuhin

Canon Medical System Corporation

Fujifilm Healthcare

Morinaga Milk Industry

NEC Corporation

New World TMT

Nitto Denko Corporation

Softbank Technology Corporation

Sanei International

Intellectual property: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP provides both outbound and inbound intellectual property (IP) counsel to its Japanese and international clients. Under the leadership of Shinsuke Yakura, the team handles cross-border disputes, license negotiations, transactions and portfolio management, with strong expertise in new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Yoshihiro Takatori heads the litigation department in Tokyo and has a strong track record in acting in cross-border IP and counterfeiting issues on behalf of Japanese clients. David Case has left the firm to start his own firm in the US. Anri Nakamoto has been promoted to managing associate. Also notable in the team is fellow managing associate Kei Kato.

Testimonials

‘Shinsuke Yakura and Masao Fujino are particularly strong in the field of intellectual property.’

‘Orrick’s Tokyo team has excellent capabilities and capacities for worldwide strategic intellectual property issues. No matter how complicated it gets, clients always get accurate and timely advice.’

‘Shinsuke Yakura and associate Masao Fujino have outstanding negotiation skills, but they are also excellent when it comes to drafting contracts, which contributes greatly to the promotion of overseas business.’

Key clients

Applied Materials

Fujikin Incorporated

V. MANE Fils SA

Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting

Morinaga Milk Industries Co., Ltd

NEC Corporation

Nitto Denko Corporation

Sanei International

Softbank Technology Corporation

Labour and employment: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP provides Japanese employment law counsel to international clients, particularly on the contentious front. However, the team also advises on non-contentious M&A transactions and the employment issues that arise therefrom. Yumiko Ohta spearheads the Tokyo-based group which was recently bolstered by the arrival of corporate associate Ben Miller from Nishimura & Asahi. In recent highlights, Ohta successfully obtained a global settlement for a multinational company in a dispute with its former founder-employee.

Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

Under the leadership of Yoichi Katayama, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has been advising on some of the most significant inbound energy project mandates, including an expansive 121.6MW Tsugaru wind facility and the 235MW Setouchi solar facility, while also continuing to assist Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry with opinions and information for structuring the Feed-In-Tariff system and its model power purchase agreement. On the outbound front, practice co-head James Atkin continues to provide expert oil and gas counsel to Japanese clients regarding their investments overseas. Also notable on the renewables side are Minako Wakabayashi and of counsel Yuko Inui.

Key clients

Enviva Holding LP

GE Energy

Juwi Shizen Energy Inc.

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation

Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Development) and Green Power Investments (GPI)

Pacifico Energy

Setouchi Future Creations LLC, GE Energy Financial Services, Toyo Engineering Corp. and Kuni Umi Asset Management Co.

Sybac Solar Japan

Real estate and construction: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP advises on the full gamut of real estate investments, complex cross-border acquisitions and financings and joint ventures. Toshihiko Tsuchiya's team specialises in both inbound and outbound cross-border real estate transactions with a particular emphasis on representing Japanese institutional investors in their investments overseas. Also notable is Yuko Ino, who has experience in new technologies including fintech and crowdfunding. David Gotsill has relocated to the San Francisco office.

Key clients

Goldman Sachs

Great Eagle/Langham Hotels Investment

LaSalle Investment Management K.K.

Morgan Stanley Capital

PAG Investment Management

PGIM Real Estate Finance (formerly Prudential Mortgage Capital)

WeWork Japan GK

Great Trend (H.K.) Limited

Corporate and M&A: International firms and joint ventures Tier 3

The corporate team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is best known for its expertise in the startup space. Jointly led by Hiroki Sugita and Mark Weeks – who shares his time between Tokyo and Hong Kong – the team regularly acts for several early-stage companies, venture capital funds, and unicorn companies based in Japan. The group covers a vast array of transactions including private equity investments, joint ventures, and private and public M&A deals.

Testimonials

‘Orrick provides very professional services with regards to Japanese businesses. It has a strong expertise in the area of commercial law, company law and labor law.’

‘Mark Weeks is proficient in advising clients, analysing problems, and understanding laws. He is able to handle corporate meetings efficiently because of his excellent Japanese language and communication skills.’

‘Hiroki Sugita is a high-quality, very insightful, thorough and responsive Japanese lawyer. He is extremely effective in skillfully and creative when solving problems. His advice can be more than legal, and is always practical, well-informed and very responsive.’

‘Kane Huang is proficient in helping clients to complete contract negotiations. He has superior drafting skills as well as excellent analytical skills.’

‘Hiroki Sugita and Sakon Kuramoto provide professional, practical and prompt advice.’

Key clients

Axil Capital Partner

Daicel Corporation

HekaBio K.K.

Liquid, Inc.

Mitsui & Co., Ltd

Rakuten Inc.

Sojitz Corporation

Tadano, Ltd.

Whill Inc.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Firm Profile

The firm: Orrick is a global law firm focused on serving clients in the technology and innovation, energy and infrastructure and finance sectors. Founded more than 150 years ago, the firm today has 1,200 lawyers in offices across Asia, Europe, the United States and Africa, and has been named to Law360’s “Global 20” list of the world’s leading international law firms seven times. Clients worldwide call on Orrick for forward-looking commercial advice on transactions, litigation and compliance matters. Orrick is driven by innovation and was singled out by Financial Times as the Most Innovative Law Firm in North America in 2016 and 2017, and is recognized for innovative work in both Asia and Europe.

The Tokyo-based team collaborates seamlessly with the firm’s offices globally to provide the best and most responsive legal solutions for clients. The firm serves both Japanese clients and international clients doing business in Japan on a full range of transactional and regulatory matters, as well as those requiring dispute resolution.

Areas of practice: Corporate/M&A: Orrick in Japan has a long history of helping clients with cross-border M&As, joint ventures and other commercial transactions. With offices in key jurisdictions around the world, the firm is particularly adept in transactions that span multiple jurisdictions. The firm’s Tokyo-based team also advises global investors with Japan-based interests.

Intellectual property: Orrick is one of the most active law firms representing Japanese multinational companies in sensitive patent and IP matters in Japan, China and the US. Orrick lawyers have secured a string of wins before the International Trade Commission in Section 337 matters and before district and appellate courts throughout the US. Tokyo-based IP lawyers are also known for handling complex disputes in Japanese courts, involving patents, copyrights and trade marks, as well as unfair competition and trade secret actions.

Litigation and dispute resolution: Orrick helps Japanese clients navigate complex multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes on antitrust, product liability, international arbitration, FCPA, UKBA and compliance investigations. The Tokyo team also works with the firm’s global data privacy and cybersecurity lawyers to advise Japanese clients on managing risks across a range of data privacy and cybersecurity-relevant issues. Recently Orrick represented a client in the first international commercial mediation proceeding to be administrated by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA).

Employment law and HR consultation: Orrick advises on dispute resolution cases in Japan, and consults clients on all legal aspects of their employment and HR strategies in Japanese proceedings in multiple languages and under a variety of arbitral rules and governing laws.

Energy and infrastructure: Orrick has decades of experience advising on complex cross-border energy projects in the power, oil and gas and Renewable Energy. The team plays an active role in the reinvigoration of Japan’s green sector. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry turned to Orrick for structuring Japan’s feed-in tariff policy, designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy. Since 2013, Orrick has acted for Setouchi Future Creation, a special-purpose company consisting of GE Energy Financial Services, Toyo Engineering and Kuni Umi Asset Management, as sponsor of the massive 231.44MW Setouchi Solar Project, which will be the largest PV solar project in Japan when it launches in 2019.

Real estate finance: Orrick advises global investors on their cross-border joint ventures, acquisitions of real estate assets, property developments and complex financing transactions in Japan. The team also helps Japanese real estate investors in all phases of real estate investments, financings, developments, fund formation, leasing and operations overseas.

Technology companies: Orrick advises Japanese and global technology-driven ventures at all stages of growth on a wide range of legal and strategic matters. The team is bringing a ‘Silicon Valley’ style practice to Japan and building connections between entrepreneurial companies and venture capital in the US.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Antitrust and competition Yoshihiro Takatori ytakatori@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2911
Banking and finance Yoichi Katayama ykatayama@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2921
Corporate M&A Hiroki Sugita hsugita@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2953
Cybersecurity and data privacy Yoshihiro Takatori ytakatori@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2911
Employment Yumiko Ohta yohta@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2829
Energy and Infrastructure Yoichi Katayama ykatayama@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2921
Fintech Yuko Ino yino@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2908
Intellectual property Shinsuke Yakura syakura@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2922
International arbitration Yoshihiro Takatori `ytakatori@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2911
Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration Shinsuke Yakura syakura@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2922
Mass torts and product liability Yoshihiro Takatori ytakatori@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2911
Real estate and finance Toshihiko Tsuchiya ttsuchiya@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2910
Real Estate and Real Estate Finance Yuko Ino yino@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2908
Technology start-up and venture capital representation Hiroki Sugita hsugita@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2953
White-collar and corporate investigations Yoshihiro Takatori ytakatori@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2911
White-collar and Corporate Investigation Shinsuke Yakura syakura@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2922
Structured Finance Toshihiko Tsuchiya ttsuchiya@orrick.com +81 3 3224 2910

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Jae-Hyon Ahn photo Jae-Hyon Ahn View Profile
Kane Huang photo Kane Huang View Profile
John Inge photo John Inge View Profile
Yuko Ino photo Yuko Ino View Profile
Yuko Inui photo Yuko Inui View Profile
Kazuo Isshiki photo Kazuo Isshiki View Profile
Yoichi Katayama photo Yoichi Katayama View Profile
Yumiko Ohta photo Yumiko Ohta View Profile
Reiko Saito photo Reiko Saito View Profile
Hiroki Sugita photo Hiroki Sugita View Profile
Yoshihiro Takatori photo Yoshihiro Takatori View Profile
Toshihiko Tsuchiya photo Toshihiko Tsuchiya View Profile
Minako Wakabayashi photo Minako Wakabayashi View Profile
Mark Weeks photo Mark Weeks View Profile
Shinsuke Yakura photo Shinsuke Yakura View Profile

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers at this office : 25
in this country : 25
worldwide : 1,200

Languages

Chinese
English
Japanese

Top Tier Firm Rankings

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